Dong Definition & Meaning

American

British

Etymology

Examples

Synonyms dong 1 American [dawng, dong] / dɔŋ, dɒŋ /

noun

1. a deep sound like that of a large bell.

dong 2 American [dawng, dong] / dɔŋ, dɒŋ /

noun

plural

dong

1. the basic monetary unit of Vietnam: replaced the southern piaster and the northern dong in 1978.

dong 3 American [dawng, dong] / dɔŋ, dɒŋ /

noun

Slang: Vulgar.

1. penis.

dong 1 British / dɒŋ /

noun

1. the deep reverberating sound of a large bell

2. informal a heavy blow

3. a slang word for penis

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

1. (intr) (of a bell) to make a deep reverberating sound

2. informal (tr) to strike or punch

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 dông 2 British / dɒŋ /

noun

1. the standard monetary unit of Vietnam, divided into 10 hào or 100 xu

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of dong1

First recorded in 1880–90; imitative; ding-dong

Origin of dong2

First recorded in 1820–25; from Vietnamese đồng “copper”

Origin of dong3

First recorded in 1890–95; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"So we certainly saw more coordination in the activity last night than we had seen in previous days, as to who was dong that coordinating I'm not in a position to say yet."

From BBC

“Well, this ding dong, senator, has risen in the polls,” Cavuto said.

From Salon

The first thing you notice walking up to a dai pai dong, one of Hong Kong's signature open-air street food stalls, is the smoke.

From Salon

Woolwich Centre Library appears to be dong well - visitor numbers are up on pre-pandemic levels - but the picture across the country is unclear.

From BBC

When I raise the subject of her 2018 wedding, there is a ding dong.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.